novelraw Chapter 23: Were These Memories Truly Mine?
Chapter 23: Were These Memories Truly Mine?
As I reveled in the cool night air, relishing my escape from the suffocating sewers, a sudden rustling behind me shattered my moment of relief, and I immediately tensed up.
Spinning around, I caught sight of something emerging from the darkness—it was a grotesque, lurching figure. At first glance, it resembled a zombie, but as it stumbled forward, the true horror became clear. A bloated, pulsating mass was latched onto its head—a writhing, tentacle-covered organism that twitched and coiled like a living parasite.
[Mutated Octoferal Zombie – Lv.27]
Shit! A mutated one right off the bat? I should have expected this. If this place were near where the thralls had unleashed the flying octopuses, then powerful zombies were bound to converge here.
“GRRAAGHH!!”
A guttural roar erupted from its deformed mouth, echoing through the night. In response, more figures emerged from the darkness.
[Octoferal Zombie – Lv.15]
[Octoferal Zombie – Lv.17]
More than a dozen of them, though only one was a mutation. Their levels were significantly higher than the ones I had faced before.
“There are so many of them… and they’re all stronger than normal,” I mused, unsheathing my sword. Then, a smirk tugged at my lips. “But you’ve underestimated me.”
If this had been the past me before my class change, I might have turned tail, picking them off one by one with caution. But now, I was too confident in even considering a strategic retreat. In fact, I didn’t even bother activating Fabled Vessel and charged straight at them.
Boosted by my stats, I closed the distance in less than a second. The mutated zombie pounced at me, swinging its bloated arms, but I sidestepped with ease. Before it could recover, I drove my blade deep into its chest, aiming for a decisive kill, only to meet unexpected resistance. The flesh around the wound rippled unnaturally, and instead of collapsing, the creature let out a wet, inhuman shriek.
Suddenly, the octopus’s tendrils burst from the wound, writhing madly as if trying to force my weapon out. Instinctively, I yanked my sword free just as the slimy appendages lashed at where my hand had been moments ago.
“Regeneration, huh? Annoying.” I clicked my tongue in irritation.
How the hell had Boris managed to beat one of these things barehanded?
At the time, I didn’t pay any attention, as I was too preoccupied with surviving against the horde of zombies and flying octopuses. He must have had an offensive skill I wasn’t aware of, which was very likely, considering that he had a class back then. Unfortunately, I still had not gotten any offensive skills that could do big damage. As soon as I completed this scenario, I must address that issue immediately.
For now, hesitation wasn’t an option since more of them were closing in. With a quick glance, I assessed my surroundings. The area was relatively open—a ruined plaza overgrown with moss and weeds, likely abandoned for years. A rusted streetlamp flickered weakly nearby, casting long, distorted shadows. To my left, a crumbling overpass stretched into the distance, and to my right, an old maintenance building stood with its door slightly ajar.
There was no real cover to take advantage of, so instead of playing defensively, I took the initiative. Without slowing down, I charged toward the weaker zombies, cutting them down one by one with swift, precise strikes.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.14].
You have gained 14 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.17].
You have gained 17 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.12].
You have gained 12 EXP.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.13].
You have gained 13 EXP.
…
Each kill thinned their ranks, making the battlefield more manageable. Strangely, there were no flying octopuses in sight, though I wasn’t about to complain. With no aerial threats to distract me, I could focus on cutting through the horde without worry. Furthermore, the mutated zombie seemed to be not as relentless as the brute at chasing me.
Maybe it was because it was night, but the zombies seemed more feral than usual. Still, they were just as sluggish as ever, making them far easier to deal with compared to the thralls. My improved stats and combat proficiency only widened the gap between us, turning the battle into a one-sided slaughter.
It didn’t take long to cull their numbers down to just a handful. I had just slain another one when a notification flashed before my eyes—
You have earned a new title: Zombie Hunter
Zombie Hunter
Rank: Uncommon
A title granted to those who have hunted at least one hundred zombie-like monsters.
Grants +1 to all stats except Luck.Slightly increases damage dealt against zombie-like monsters.Causes all zombie-like monsters to feel slight fear toward you.Despite the achievement of having hunted one hundred zombies, the title’s effects were underwhelming, and its usability was fairly limited; it was one of the weakest uncommon-grade titles. In fact, I knew that some titles had different grades—higher-tier versions that granted far better bonuses. This was the lowest grade for this title.
Soon, I had hunted down every zombie in sight, leaving only the mutated one standing. It growled at me before launching at me with alarming speed. I reacted instantly, swinging my sword straight for its face. But when the blade connected—
Polished Short Sword is out of durability.
Polished Short Sword is destroyed.
A sudden, jarring snap echoed, and the blade shattered on impact, and the fragments scattered across the ground.
Damn. Cheap sword.
Even though I had it repaired before, it was still just a common-grade weapon. The fact that it had lasted this long was already a small miracle.
But the zombie wasn’t going to stay still. The moment my sword shattered, it roared and swung its massive, clawed hand downward, aiming straight for my face. Without hesitation, I pivoted on my heel, narrowly avoiding the strike. The creature’s bloated arm smashed into the ground where I had been standing, cracking the pavement beneath it.
I didn’t waste the opening. In one swift motion, I took out my steel spear from my inventory and drove it straight into the back of its head with all my strength. The sharp tip tore through rotting flesh with a sickening squelch, emerging from its gaping maw.
The mutated zombie convulsed violently before staggering a few steps forward and then collapsing with a heavy, lifeless thud.
You have hunted [Octoferal Zombie Lv.27].
You have gained 37 EXP.
“Huff… This is still somewhat exhausting,” I muttered, catching my breath, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension.
Glancing around the eerie, desolate plaza, I frowned. “Maybe I shouldn’t explore the area at night…”
Not only was my visibility limited by the darkness, but I was also a bit tired. While I had taken brief rests here and there and even increased my Stamina stat, the prolonged battles were beginning to wear me down. That said, my stamina had held up remarkably well, all things considered.
I turned my gaze toward the old maintenance building I had spotted earlier. Its metal door was still slightly ajar, and the structure, though worn by time, looked stable enough. If I wanted to recover, this was my best option, unless I preferred spending the night in the sewers, suffocating in the stench of filth… Just thinking about it made my stomach churn.
Approaching cautiously, I nudged the door open with my foot and stepped inside. The interior was in disrepair, dust coating every surface, and there was a faint scent of rusted metal. My eyes swept over the space—a small room filled with old equipment, broken shelves, and rusted toolboxes. The room was barely illuminated by the moonlight filtered through a grimy window.
The first thing I did was check for any threats. I prodded the debris with my spear, making sure nothing was hiding underneath. After a thorough sweep, I confirmed that the building was empty.
Next, I secured the entrance. The door’s lock was broken, but a heavy metal cabinet nearby would serve as a makeshift barricade. With a grunt, I dragged it in front of the door, wedging it firmly in place. It wouldn’t stop something like the mutated zombie, but at the very least, it would alert me if anything tried to break in.
Satisfied, I exhaled and rolled out my sleeping mat against the wall before finally sitting down, allowing myself to relax. At last, I had a moment to breathe and check my progress thus far.
Scenario #2 [Exploring the Post-Apocalyptic City]
Octoferals and Octoferal Zombies have overrun the surface, while all manner of unknown creatures lurk in the city’s hidden depths. Uncover the secrets this city holds by investigating the origin of the horde.
Mission Type: Exploration
Difficulty: F+
Main Objective: Explore the area for 10 km2. (29%)
Reward: 1,000 Soul Coins & One Uncommon-Grade Armament Voucher
Penalty for Failure: Death
Extra Conditions:
1. Kill 20 monsters of any kind. (97/20)
Reward: Two Aleph-Tier General Lootboxes.
2. Kill 50 monsters of any kind. (97/50)
Reward: A Random Uncommon-Grade Skill Book.
3. Kill 100 monsters of any kind and uncover the secret that the city possesses. (97/100, Complete)
Reward: A Random Rare-Grade Skill Book.
I’d almost fulfilled the required quota for the third extra condition. However, I had only explored 29 percent of the required area for the main objective. It couldn’t be helped, as the sewer was too narrow, and a significant portion of my time had been spent dealing with the thrall camp.
Had I started on the surface from the beginning, I might have already completed the scenario by now. But then again, I wouldn’t have discovered the statue containing faith, the very thing that propelled me toward the class I truly wanted. It was a necessary detour in hindsight. At any rate, now that I was on the surface, I should be able to clear the main objective tomorrow.
Still, as I sat there alone, I finally had a moment to breathe and have a moment for self-reflection. It had only been two days, yet there was already so much to think about.
Obtaining this unknown legendary class had left me doubting. Was there someone or something tampering with Divine Will unbeknownst to me? It shouldn’t have been possible, as only I, its creator, should have the authority to do so.
But then… were these memories truly mine?
What if all of this was part of an elaborate scheme?
As these questions appeared in my mind, I closed my eyes. Before I could find an answer, sleep took hold as exhaustion pressed down on me.